The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle and has become the city's symbol. The 184-metre tower has an observation deck with the world's first rotating glass floor. On clear days, visitors see Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and the Cascade and Olympic mountains.

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle showcases the vibrant glass art of Dale Chihuly. Located beside the Space Needle, it features eight galleries, a 30-metre-long sculpture in the Glasshouse and colourful installations in the garden. It opened in 2012.

Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Overlooking Elliott Bay in Seattle, it is famous for fishmongers throwing fish, the Gum Wall and the original Starbucks store. Hundreds of farmers, craftspeople and small businesses operate here.

Snoqualmie Falls is a 82-metre waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, about 45 km east of Seattle. It is sacred to the Snoqualmie people and gained wider fame from the TV series Twin Peaks. An observation deck and a trail down to the river offer excellent views, with the Salish Lodge perched beside the falls.

Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano and the highest mountain in Washington State at 4,392 metres. It is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. Mount Rainier National Park offers wildflower meadows at Paradise and Sunrise, waterfalls and hiking trails including the Wonderland Trail.

Olympic National Park in Washington State is remarkably diverse, covering glacier-capped mountains, temperate rainforests and wild Pacific coastline. The Hoh Rain Forest is draped in moss, Hurricane Ridge offers mountain views and Ruby Beach has dramatic sea stacks. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Portland Japanese Garden is considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan. Opened in 1967 in the hills of Washington Park, it includes five garden styles, a tea house, koi ponds and waterfalls. Its maple trees are especially striking in autumn.

Multnomah Falls is Oregon's tallest waterfall, dropping 189 metres in two tiers in the Columbia River Gorge. The historic Benson Bridge, built in 1914, spans the falls between the upper and lower cascades. A paved trail leads to the top, and the stone Multnomah Falls Lodge sits at the base.

The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular canyon up to 1,200 metres deep, forming the border between Oregon and Washington. It is famous for its many waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, and for Vista House at Crown Point. The Historic Columbia River Highway winds along the gorge.

Mount Hood is Oregon's highest peak at 3,429 metres and a potentially active volcano. It is home to year-round skiing at Timberline Lodge, a historic lodge built in the 1930s. Trillium Lake offers a famous reflection of the mountain, and many hiking trails circle its slopes.

Cannon Beach is a charming coastal town on Oregon's north coast, known for Haystack Rock, a 72-metre sea stack rising from the beach. At low tide, tide pools reveal starfish and anemones, and puffins nest on the rock in spring and summer. The town is popular for art galleries and coastal walks.

Crater Lake in Oregon fills the caldera of Mount Mazama, a volcano that collapsed about 7,700 years ago. At 594 metres, it is the deepest lake in the United States and famous for its intense blue colour. Wizard Island rises from the water, and Rim Drive circles the caldera.